Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30,409, Thaddeus Fairfield, Mass.

SERVICE
Mass
Fairfield, Thadous
NUMBER _____
S. 30.409.
CONTENTS

15631
Massachusetts
Shaddus Fairfield
of Hampshire in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Gould of the Regt commanded by Col. Northman the Mass line 12 months
Index
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 40 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 18th day of July 1831 and Sept Mason Shaw Belchertown Mass
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1831 $80.00 Semi-ann. allowance ending Nov. 20.00
$100.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Not June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by L. B. Mason Clerk, Book Vol. 2a Page 25

25229
Thaddeus Fairfield Decl.
1840

Commonwealth of Massachusetts } County of Hampshire } fs.
On this twelfth day of February A.D. 1833 personally appeared in open court before Samuel Hinckley Esquire Judge of Probate of Wills & for said County of Hampshire now sitting at Belchertown in said County of Hampshire, Ithaddeus Haurfield a resident Belchertown in said County of Hampshire aged eighty five years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7 th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated:
That on hearing of the battle at Lexington in April 1775 he turned out immediately as a volunteer in a Company of minutemen and marched forthwith to Boston, as a soldier in said Company commanded by Capt. John Cowle, in the Regiment commanded by Col. Reagles Woodbridge, and served in said Company and Regiment eight months from the last of April aforesaid, in the service of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; that during said term, he was quartered at Cambridge; That he was detached to march to Bunker Hill at the time of that engagement and met the retreating troops at Charlestown neck, and returned to camp; that after his said term of service was out he was dismissed about the first of January 1776. That he has no documentary evidence of said eight months service, and that he knows of no person, whose testimony he can procure who can testify to said service, except Moses Prindle of said Belchertown who belonged to said Company and marched with them to Cambridge, but did not continue long in said Company -

That afterwards, the last of july or first of august, in the year 1776, it being as soon as haymaking was done, he turned out as a volunteer in the service of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and was enrolled in the Company commanded by Capt Oliver Lyman of Northampton in said County, Oliver Warner of Granby in said County being first Lieutenant. But Haskell who lived in the County of Worcester, was one of the Colonels who commanded the Regiment; That they were stationed at Dorchester, and remained there four months; that during that time they took down the barracks at Cambridge and moved them to Dorchester, and that after the expiration of said term of four months he was there dismissed. That being called the four months service, That Moses Prouty aforesaid is the only person now living to his knowledge who served in said Company, That afterwards he turned out in various alarms & did, in each, service for a short time; That he was born in said Belchertown, and has always lived in the same town.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid Before me Samuel Hinsdell Judge of Probate
We Subscall Wakefield a clergyman, residing in Belchertown aforesaid and Moses Hemenway residing in the same town hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Thaddeus Fairfield who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be eighty five years of age; that he is respected and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier in the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Subscall Wakefield Moses Hemenway Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid Before me Samuel Hinsdell Judge of Probate

And the said judge of Probate doth hereby declare his opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the said judge of Probate further certifies, that it appears to him that Israel Wakefield who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in Belchertown aforesaid, and is a credible person that Moses Hannum who has also signed the same is a resident in the same town and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. Samuel Hinckley Judge of Probate
I Samuel F. Lyman Register of said court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Hadducks Greenfield for a Pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this twelfth day of
February A.D. 1833 —
Samuel F. Lyman Register

No 25229 Thaddeus Fairfield Hampshire County Massachusetts.
Plat 12 M o
Mason Shaw Belchertown Mass.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Thaddeus Fairfield Hampshire County Massachusetts
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Vol. 1775 - 8 - private Capt Cowle, Colonel Ruggles Woodbridge 85 years Lexington Massachusetts Traditionary evidence & the certified credible, and Clergymans certificate papers correct -   Vol Aug 5 th 1776 - 4 - " Capt Lyman  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this day of personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) , with and served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. (This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.)]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. } Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? { To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?  7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:—For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months , is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[k] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

30 409 Ray  INVALID.
File No. 30,409
Shaddens Fairfield Li Rev War
Act: June 7 th 82
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 181
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Mrs. Muntz Dyer - per Madame Gaspard

I Moses Prntis of Belchertown in the County of Hampshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged eighty nine years testify and say that I have lived in said town ever since the year 1760, and that I have known Haddus Fairfield of this town ever since that in the year 1776 we formed a company of minute men and met frequently for exercise and military discipline, and that Haddus Fairfield lived about eighty rods from me, and was my nearest neighbor and was one of our members & met with us. And that after the news of the battle at Lexington, we gathered and marched for Boston under the command of Capt. John Lewis and that said Fairfield and myself went together, on our way to Boston in our blankets. Soon afterwards Col. Woodbridge who commanded the Regiment to which said Capt. Lewis company was attached sent me out into the country to enlist men for the service so that I was only at Cambridge, when said Regiment was quartered but a few days occasionally during that summer, and I have no doubt that said Fairfield served in that company that campaign.
I further testify and say that in 1776 about the first of August said Haddus Fairfield and myself turned out as volunteers in the company commanded by Capt. Oliver Lyman of Northampton, Stephen Warner of Granby was our first Lieutenant, and the Regiment was commanded by Col. Henry Dyke and Col. Haskell of Harvard in the County of Worcester, and marched to Boston and were there at Dorchester near Boston, and we were out in

that campaigning four months and that said Fairfield served during all that time as a soldier in said company
Moses Prentice
Hampshire Co. March 11 th 1833
Personally appeared the above named Moses Prentice and made solemn oath that the above deposition by him subscribed is true.
Before Mason Shaw Justice of the Peace
I certify that Moses Prentice above named is a resident in Belknapton in said county - that I have been acquainted with him for several years, and that his testimony is entitled to full credit.
Mason Shaw Justice of the Peace

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Hampshire ss.
I, SAMUEL F. LYMAN, Register of the Court of Probate within and for said County of Hampshire, do hereby certify that Natson Shaw Esquire, before whom the annexed deposition was taken, was, at the date thereof, one of the Justices of the Peace within and for said County, duly and regularly appointed, and that the signature thereto annexed purporting to be his, I know to be genuine.
IN testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, this fourteenth day of March A. D. 183 3
Samuel F. Lyman Register of Probate.